Compassionate Swaziland recognises that vulnerable children face numerous challenges as regards school attendance and attainment of basic education due to poverty caused by lose of income. Compassionate Swaziland also seeks to provide Vulnerable children with opportunities to pursue higher education through provision of school uniforms, payment of school and college fees. Research has shown that the rate of teenage pregnancy in Swaziland is highest among VULNERABLE CHILDREN adolescent girls linked to vulnerability due to poverty and low educational attainment (SDHS 2006/7). The SDHS (2006/2007) reported that approximately 4% of women aged 15-19 were reported to be currently pregnant with their child of which over 60% were Vulnerable children. This could be attributed to lack of information on contraceptives as a preventive measure against pregnancy.
In Swaziland girls who fall pregnant can no longer go back to government schools as they are highly stigmatized by fellow pupils and teachers. More over they are seen as poor examples to other pupils who now look at them as mothers. Their hope for attaining education ends with the beginning of their pregnancy. This is also away to deter the “would be culprits” who are seen as an embarrassment to their families. Their next hope is to wait and get married or join private schools which are rare and expensive (which rarely happens). Towards this end Compassionate Swaziland identifies out of school teenage mothers and provides them with counselling before finding a suitable school for them so they can proceed with their education. Where a teenage mother does not want to go back to school Compassionate Swaziland provides them with vocational skills training to enhance their future earnings so they can support their children. Compassionate works to enhance vulnerable children’s career opportunities by providing educational materials like school bags, shoes, school uniforms, and school fees, and career guidance. Community based volunteers make regular visits to vulnerable children living in child headed families to support them in doing their home work. |
